Ratchet mechanism



E. W. MCGUIRE.

RATOHET MEGHANISM- No. 423,266. Patented Mar. 11, 1890'.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELWVOOD WV. MCGUIRE, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

RATCHET MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,266, dated March11, 1890.

Application filed December 23, 1889. Serial No. 334,634- (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELWOOD W. IVIOGUIRE, of Richmond, in the county ofWayne, and in the State of Indiana, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Ratchet Mechanism; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows aperspective view of my ratchet mechanism; Fig. 2, aview of the same inside elevation with the parts in position, as when the pinion or barreland arbor are locked together; Fig. 3, a similar view of the mechanismwith the parts in position, as when the barrel or pinion is turning backon the arbor; Fig. 4, a detail perspective view of the inner end of thepinion or barrel, and Fig. 5 a similar view of the annular pawl-piece.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thefigures. I

The object of my invention is to provide an improved ratchet mechanism;and to this end my invention consists in the mechanism and theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the parts thereof, ashereinafter specified.

In the so-called backing-ratchet devices as heretofore made and used forlocking the movable pieces together or leaving them independent of oneanother, according as one of the pieces is moved in one direction or theother, there has usually been employed to act with ratchet-teeth on theone piece a movable pawl carried by the other. Such pawl, whetheractuated by gravity, by a spring, or by some positive means, has been soconstructed that it would, when one of the pieces was turned backwardwith reference to the other, ride in and out over the ratchet-teeth.This 0011- -stant engagement of the pawl with the teeth view the specialpurpose of my present invention has been to provide a ratchet mechanismin which, when one of the pieces to be connected is turned in onedirection, the two parts shall be positively clutched together; but whensaid piece is turned theot-her way With these objections in there willbe no pawl riding in and out over ratchet-teeth, so as to cause wear andnoise. In the drawings, A designates the arbor or shaft, and B thepinion thereon, to be coupled with and uncoupled from the shaft by myratchet mechanism as the pinion or shaft is turned intone direction andthe other.

WVhile I have shown a pinion and shaft or arbor as supplied with myratchet mechanism, I desire it to be understood that such mechanism canbe equally well used for connecting a drum or barrel with a shaft arboror hub or any two movable levers or pieces with each other. Upon theouter end of the shaft is shown a screw-attached head 0, for keeping thepinion from falling or working off. Such head is, however, notnecessary, as any other desired pinion retaining device can be usedinstead. Upon the inner side or end of the pinion B are tworatchetshaped projections 13 B", each of which, extending out from thepinion side in a direction substantially parallel with the shaft, hasone side abrupt and the other side inclined, IVhile parallel with theshaft or arbor, the projections both stand at a short distance from theshaft or arbor periphery. Surrounding the arbor at the inner side of thepinion is the loose ring D, which has the radially-projecting portions DD, two in number, adapted to be brought into the spaces between theprojections B B on the pinion when the ring has been moved toward thelatter. Said projecting portions 1) D correspond substantially in shapeand size with the spaces described above. Each one has on its oppositesides an abrupt face D to engage the abrupt face on one tooth orprojection B, and an inclined face D to engage the correspondinginclined face on the other projection B. The parts of the ring betweenthe projecting portions D D are made so as to be capable of passing inunder the projections B B and between the latter and the periphery ofshaft A, so that the inner side of the ring can be brought against orclose to the pinion side. In the side of the ring away from the pinionare the two diametricallyopposite ratchet-shaped notches or recesses EE, each having its inclined side E extending in a direction opposite tothat of the inclined faces D D on the projecting portions D D of thering, and its abrupt side E facing in the same direction as the abruptsides of said portions D D. Instead of being in planes parallel with theaxis of the shaft or arbor A, abrupt side E of each notch is preferablycut at an angle to such plane, as shown, so as to make the outer edge ofthe abrupt side or face project beyond its inner edge. This constructiongives the notch a hooked'or overhanging end, for a purpose to bedescribed hereinafter.

Situated on the shaft or arbor A at a distance from the inner face ofthe pinion less than the combined distances from the inner to the outerend of one of the projections B B, and from the inner to the outer sidesor ends of one of the projecting portions D D onthe ring D, is theradially-projecting stud or pin F, having the side F inclined tocorrespond with the inclination or angle of the abrupt side of one ofthe notches E E in ring D. The side of the stud opposite to the inclinedface F is preferably rounded or beveled, as shown, for a purpose to beset forth.

If desired, there may be another stud on the shaft or arbor situateddiametrically opposite to the one shown and described.

While I have set forth a certain special shape of the stud, I desire itto be understood that I do not limit myself thereto. It may be in theform of a simple cylindrical pin attached to or formed on the arbor.

The operation of my mechanism is as follows: Regarding the pinion asbeing the driven part to be coupled with and drive the arbor or shaft Awhen the pinion is turning in the direction indicated by the arrow inFig. 2, the ring D will by the engagement of the inclined faces of theprojections B B and projecting portions D D on the pinion and ring,respectively, be forced away from the pinion side toward the stud F.When one of the recesses E E comes opposite the stud, the ring will thenmove out far enough to bring the abrupt side of the recess in posi tionto engage thestud. As the space between the stud and the pinion is lessthan the length of one of the projections B, measuring from. its outerend to the pinion side, plus the distance from the inner to the outerside of the projecting portions D D, it follows that even when the studoccupies one of the recesses E the projections B B and projectingportions D D cannot pass by each other, so as to let the pinion revolveindependently of the ring. The pinion, ring, and shaft must then turntogether. WVith the stud having the inclined face F and the recess Ehaving the undercut abrupt end to engage the stud, the ring and studwill be securely connected together as long as the pinion turns in thedirection described, and the pressure of the end of the recess againstthe stud will tend to hold the ring out toward the stud and not to forcethe same inward toward the pinion. If, now, the pinion is turned in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, the abrupt faces of theprojections B B 011 the pinion will first engage the corresponding faceson the projecting portions D D on the ring D, so that the latter will becaused to move with the pinion around the arbor. As the ring thus movesthe inclined end of the recess occupied by the stud strikes the round orbeveled side of the latter. By its engagement with this face the studwill cause the ring to move inward toward the pinion until the outerside of the ring can pass freely by the stud. The pinion will then befree tocontinue its rotation in the direction indicated around theshaft. The rounding or beveling of the side of the stud which is toengage the inclined face or end of the recess E facilitates the camminginward of the ring described just above.

WVith the parts of the mechanism in the relative positions set forth thepinion can continue to turn noiselessly and without any of the rattleand click which comes from the ratchet mechanisms where a pawl is 0011-tinuously working over ratchet-teeth during backing action. There is noriding in and out of a movable piece, as the ratchet-teeth successivelypass by it, and consequently there is in my mechanism a great saving inWear of the parts as well as in noise and jar.

If, with the pinion uncoupled from the shaft, as described, the formerbe turned for- Ward again in the direction indicated by the arrow inFig. 2, the cam or inclined faces on the projections B B will, as theyengage the corresponding inclined faces on the ring portions D D, camthe ring outward away from the pinion, so that assoon as one of therecesses E E comes opposite to the stud F the abrupt end E of suchrecess will by the movement of the ring be brought at once into positionto engage and be held by the stud. The parts are now in the positionfirst described, and the pinion and shaft will be connected and mustturn together, as the pinion cannot, on account of the engagement of itsprojections B B with the portions D D of the ring D, turn past the ring,and the latter cannot rotate past the stud F, on. account of theengagement of the latter with the abrupt side of a recess E in the ring.

While I have shown and described the pinion as the driver and the shaftas the driven part, the latter can of course be the driver instead ofthe pinion without any change in the parts of the mechanism, except suchas may be necessary to give the proper direction to the rotation of thepinion by the shaft.

If the pinion is to be driven by the shaft in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 2, the directions in which the engaging surfaces onthe pinion, ring, and stud extend should be changed.

In practice I have found that my ratchet mechanism is positive and quickin action, and is noiseless and not subject to any wear while the partto be coupled to another by it is being turned backward. As it has nospring or springs, but only positively-acting parts, there is nothing init which is liable to break or get out of order.

While my mechanism has been shown and described as applied to a pinionand shaft, it is equally applicable for securing the connection anddisconnection of other movable pieces or devices.

Having thus described my invention, what claim is 1. In combination withthe arbor having a stud, the rotary piece having on the side toward thestud a series of alternately-arranged inclined and abrupt surfaces, anda ring between the piece and stud having projecting portions to engagethe inclines and abrupt surfaces on the rotary piece, and one or moreinclined and abrupt surfaces on its side toward the stud, with eachincline eX- tending in a direction opposite to that of the inclinedsurface or surfaces on the rotary piece, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

2. In combination with an arbor having a stud, the rotary piece havingon its side toward the arbor-stud a projection with inclined and abruptfaces, the ring between the rotary piece and stud having inclined andabrupt faces to engage the corresponding faces 011 the rotary piece, anda ratchet-shaped recess on the side toward the stud, substantially asand for the purpose shown.

3. In combination with an arbor having a stud, the rotary piece havingratchet-shaped projections on its side toward the stud, and theintermediate ring having inclined and abrupt faces to engage the similarfaces on the rotary-pieceprojection, and with ratchetshaped recesses onthe side toward the stud, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. In combination with a shaft or arbor having a stud, the rotary piecehaving one or more projections extending toward the arborclined to thedirection of movement of the I projection as the rotary piece revolves,the ring on the arbor between the rotary piece .and the stud havingprojecting portions each face running in a direction opposite to that ofthe inclines on the projections of the rotary piece, substantially asand for the purpose described.

5. In combination with the pinion or rotary piece having severalratchet-shaped cam projections,-each with an inclined and an abruptface, the ring having on its side toward the pinion a series ofalternately-arranged inclined and abrupt surfaces to engage thecorresponding surfaces on the pinion projections and on its other side aseries of oppositely-arranged inclined and abrupt faces, and the piecemade rotary with reference to the pinion, having the stud situated so asto prevent the movement of the ring far enough from the pinion to allowdisengagement of the clined and abrupt surfaces to engage the simi-' larsurfaces on the pinion projections and on its side away from the pinioninclines opposite to those on its inner side, and undercut abrupt facesat the inner ends of such inclines, the arbor and the stud thereonhaving the inclined face to engage the undercut. abrupt faces on thering, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this17th day of December, A. D. 1889.

ELWOOD W. MCGUIRE. Witnesses:

. ELIZABETH J ONES,

ALVIN E. CRooKER.

